Portillo's Salmonella Outbreak Investigation Opens in Illinois
In yet another Illinois Salmonella outbreak, seven of 10 case patients ate at Portillo's restaurant in St. Charles during the month of April, the Kane County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health Laboratories said.
The outbreak strain is known as Salmonella Typhimurium, which health officials elsewhere in northeastern Illinois have noticed in recent illness reports. A press release from Kane County said that in about the past two weeks, 10 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium with a matching DNA fingerprint have been reported In Illinois. Meanwhile, test results are pending for at least two additional suspected outbreak cases.
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Officials describe Portillo's in St. Charles as a "common potential link,'' noting that the outbreak is still under investigation. No specific food item has been identified to be the source of the illnesses, but management of Portillo's -- a successful chain restaurant -- is "actively cooperating,'' the press release said. The restaurant was sanitized over night Monday, and is having all its food handlers tested for possible infection.The Kane County Health Department is recommending a doctor's visit for anyone who has Salmonella symptoms
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